Funanani laid to rest after emotional funeral

More than 7,000 mourners braved a rainy Sunday morning to pay their respects to gospel singer and businesswoman Funanani Patience Mbedzi Mundalamo, who was killed while leading a worshiping choir at the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ Church at Makonde Shadani on 30 March. She was laid to rest at the Khubvi Cemetery on Sunday, 7 April.

The memorial service was held at the Khubvi Sports Grounds on Saturday and was attended by members from different political parties, bishops from the Vhembe District, and the community at large. Fellow gospel artists who worked with her and also attended the memorial service are Lufuno Dagada, Jay Mbidza, Hanedzani Mutele, Saul Nephawe, Shakes Mbedzi, and Rofhiwa Manyaga, among others.

Ms Mundalamo was allegedly shot twice by her estranged husband before he disappeared into the night.

The estranged husband of the late Ms Funanani Patience Mbedzi Mundalamo, Eric Mundalamo, appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday.  Photo: Victor Mukwevho.

The 42-year-old gospel singer was a well-known figure in the Vhembe District. She started her own salon business at Khubvi village, called Funi’s Hair Salon, in the middle of the 1990s. She later opened more salons in other areas such as Sidoi, Tshilamba, Muledane, and Manini, where she was operating full-time until her passing.

One of her ardent clients, Murendeni Muhali, who is the executive producer of a current-affairs programme called “Ndevhe Tsini” on Phalaphala FM, said Funanani was the best beautician she had ever known in the Limpopo Province. “She was so dedicated to her work that if there were clients in one of her salons until late, she would never close until she finished helping all of them. Sometimes she would work until the early hours of the morning. She also taught all her employees to help customers with love and care,” she said.

She also spent her time at her local church, where she served as a worship leader. Pastor Lufuno Dagada, who was the leader of Worship House when she joined the group in 2005, said Funanani was one of the best gospel singers around. He said her song “Kha vha nndwele Murena” had carried the choir into international stardom.

Her pastor who was present when she was killed, Dr Tshifhiwa Ndou Netshapapame, said the late Ms Mundalamo had been killed when she had been leading the church choir in singing the song called “Tsini tsini na Murena”, literally translated as “Being very close to the Lord”. He added that the passing of Funanani was a big loss to the church, the gospel-music industry, and the community at large. “The big tree has fallen, and we have to pick up the baton and continue working for the Lord,” he concluded.

Her estranged husband, Eric Mundalamo, handed himself over to the police on Monday, 1 April. He appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court very late on Wednesday, 3 April, and his case was postponed to 10 June. He remains in custody.

Date:12 April 2024

By: Victor Mukwevho

Victor Mukwevho Ne-vumbani joined the Mirror during it's inception in 1990. He joined the SABC newsroom in 1995, and was known by  listeners as "A u fhedzisela ari". He was a news editor for The Tembisan Newspaper from 2007 to 2015. He rejoined the Limpopo Mirror newspaper in June 2022 as a freelance journalist.

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